"She's in that class with those players,'' Magarity said. "Of all those kids, she may be the most productive this early in her career.''

Minato earned the starting nod during preseason and has provided poise for a team that needed solid direction on the floor. Her greatest asset, though, is her burgeoning role as a scorer, giving Army a triple threat, along with all-league selections Anna Simmers and Jen Hazlett.

"Her ability to take pressure off our two preseason all-league kids has been huge for our team,'' Magarity said. "It gives us a cushion when Hazlett or Simmers is having an off night.''

A perfect example was last Wednesday against Lafayette, when Simmers and Hazlett struggled to combine for 11 points and Minato picked up the slack with 21. On Sunday, Minato served as the perfect complement with 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists in a 53-42 win over Navy.

Minato leads the Patriot League in conference scoring at 18.7 points per game as Army (14-4, 3-0 PL) heads into Wednesday's home game against Colgate. Magarity said Minato's emergence has helped lessen the damage of losing Liz Benedict and Krishawn Tillett to season-ending injuries.

Minato made a little history when the Patriot League named her the top player and top rookie in the same week — only two others in 23 seasons of play have done so. The rookie award was her fifth of the season.

"Any time you have a really good point guard, they just make you look good as a coach,'' said Navy coach. "I know Dave feels that way ... he loves her. She is really solid and really poised. She can shoot the ball. She handles it really well.''

"It's been remarkable how one player, especially a freshman, can sort of change how people prepare for you and the way people play you in every game,'' Magarity said.

Minato is a laid-back kid from Huntington Beach, Calif., so she hardly allows the praise and accolades go to her head. It's just her job, in her view.

"It's pretty cool,'' Minato said of the awards, "but to me the most important thing is we keep on winning and stay focused. ... As long as we are winning, that's all I care about, and everyone else is happy.''

Minato almost didn't end up at West Point. Army didn't start recruiting her until late December 2011. She immediately fell in love with the campus, the Academy history and what a West Point education could do for her. She received assurances from the coaching staff that she would get in, but the admissions office did not officially accept her until late June, mere weeks before the start of cadet basic training — she had been offered scholarships by New Mexico State and Sacred Heart.

"I love it,'' Minato said of West Point. "There's really nothing I can complain about. Me and the other plebes, we are really close, having been through basic training together. The upperclassmen really helped us out in the beginning. This is a great group of girls and we have great team chemistry and I think that shows on the court, too.''